Gamadin Audio Movie Production

The Gamadin Audio Movie will be released by the end of this summer.

 AudioComics Press Release about Gamadin:

"GAMADIN BOOK SERIES" COMES TO AUDIOCOMICS
AudioComics’ First Young Adults Title to Record in 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AudioComics and award-nominated author Tom Kirkbride invite you to embark on the wild ride known as Gamadin, as they present the audio adaptation of Book I,Gamadin: Word of Honor in Kirkbride’s young adult series in 2013. Adapted for audio by Elaine Lee and co-directed by Lance Roger Axt and William Dufris, “Word of Honor” introduces us to Southern California surfers Harlowe, Riverstone, and Wiz, whose act of heroism leads them on the adventure of a lifetime: the retrieval of Millawanda, an ancient Gamadin spaceship, and the most dangerous weapon in the known galaxy. The Gamadin Book Series evolved from author Kirkbride’s love of science fiction and the desire to write a thrill-packed, character driven adventure. 

Since its release, the series has taken the young adults genre by storm, with the GamadinBook Series recently joining the Harry Potter and Twilight series in the Accelerated Reader Learning program in schools nationwide. The AudioComics production will present the book in a new light, utilizing the production company’s signature cinematic approach to audio drama. The work will record in Monterey, California, in the Spring of 2013, with casting to be announced in late Winter. As with previous productions of 

Titanium Rain, Starstruck, and the forthcoming Bad Planet and Perhapanauts projects, 

the finished work will be available on both compact disc and pay-per-Mp3 digital download, through the AudioComics and Gamadin websites (http://www.gamadin.com), iTunes, Amazon, and at book festivals and comic book/sci-fi conventions. Can the fate of the galaxy rest in the hands of three California surfer dudes? 

YES! 

And the rumble comes to audio in 2013…  

Gamadin Book Series - Accelerated Reader Campaign

Dear Teachers and Librarians,

The Gamadin Crew is on a mission to help students receive school credit for their efforts!

Many parents, librarians and teachers have discovered that the Gamadin Sci-Fi Adventure 

Series inspires students to read, especially the boys. That is why our slogan, 

“Finally, the Boys have a Series the Girls love to Read,” is fitting!

Over the past couple of years, we have been asked many times why the Gamadin 

Book Series is not on the Accelerated Reader (AR) program book list. 

The answer is simple: it's the process.

AR actually enjoys the series.  But because we are a small publisher, we have more hoops 

to jump through than the larger publishing houses. AR requires over 100 requests on their

website from teachers and librarians across the country to finalize the process.

 So we are seeking your help to achieve this goal.

Below is a simple step-by-step procedure that will take a brief amount of your time to complete.

Once AR has the numbers, the program will accept the Gamadin Book Series, so that boys and

girls may receive school credit for reading the volumes.

Even if your school is not part of the program, your contribution will help the students who are.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Francesca Romero, President

Wigton Publishing

1. Go to: www.RENLEARN.com

2. Click on the Accelerated Reader button.

3. Click on: “Suggest Quizzes” on the lower

     left side of the page under Quick Links.

4. Then fill in the required fields for

    “Give Us Your Recommendations.”

                     Title                                      Pub.Date                   ISBN

Book I - Gamadin: Word of Honor                    2009            978-1-9345720-6-1

Book II - Gamadin: Mons                                2010            978-0-9840643-0-4

Book III- Gamadin: Distant Suns                     2011            978-0-9840643-1-1

Book IV- Gamadin: Gazz                                2012            978-0-9840643-6-6

That’s all it takes!  Thank you!

Mark Twain Rules for Writing

SOME RULES FOR WRITING by Mark Twain

(From the Atlantic Wire)

Mark Twain was a man with a lot of ideas going through his head. In 1895, one of them was how James Fenimoore Cooper violated 18 of the 19 "rules governing literary art in the doman of romantic fiction" in his novel The Deerslayer. Twain tries setting them all down on paper, and most of them are good tips if you're writing a piece of James Fenimoore Cooper fan fiction, but will probably be of limited help to other writers. Starting at point 12, the "rules" blend into general literary rules of the road.

·       Say what he is proposing to say, not merely come near it.

·       Use the right word, not its second cousin.

·       Eschew surplusage.

o   Not omit necessary details.

o   Avoid slovenliness (lazy or sloppiness) of form.

o   Use good grammar.

o   Employ a simple and straightforward style

The Gamadin Book Series Accepted!!

The Gamadin Crew learned yesterday they were accepted by the USMC Miramar Air Show Committee to have a booth at next year's event. (Oct.12-14, 2012) This is a great honor and a privilege for the Crew, because as most of you know who have read the series, Harlowe was raised by a mother and father who were both "former" Marines! OOOH-RAH! Honor, Courage, Gamadin!

Book IV has ARRIVED!

IT'S HERE!  Book VI, Gamadin: Gazz has arrived and will be available at bookstores and online by next week, OR, you can get a personalized,  discounted copy immediately at our website bookstore,  www.gamadin.com. Schools and Libraries can receive special discounted copies at www.sunbeltbooks.com.

Tom had a wonderful time today with the students of Sunnyside Elementary School. It was great to be back for the 3rd time to see everyone and answer their many thoughtful questions. A special thank you to Mrs. Rendall and Mrs. Lee for making Tom's visit possible.

Roswell UFO Museum

The Gama-Van stopped by the UFO Museum in Roswell, New Mexico on the way back from Texas. After introducing ourselves, the nice folks at the museum requested Books I, II, & III for their library collection. Also, they offered us "free" booth space at the upcoming UFO Festival this July 1-4, which we gladly accepted. Looking forward to our return visit and meeting some new off-world friends!

Gama Van Lookin' Good

One of the best Gama sighting photos taken to date was by "Driven to Capture 2" at the recent La Mesa, California Christmas in the Village. Go to the link above to see more great photos.

Gamadin 3 Book, "Limited Edition" Bookset

ALL 3 Gamadin "Signed Limited Edition" Bookset

$49.00 at the Gamadin Store.

Includes all three books, signed by author Tom Kirkbride:

Book I, Gamadin: Word of Honor

Book II, Gamadin: Mons

Book III, Gamadin: Distant Suns

Also, "Certificate of Authenticity" and other value added items.

AVAILABLE AT THE GAMADIN STORE!

30th Annual San Diego City Lifeguard reunion

Last night I attended the 30th Annual San Diego City Lifeguard reunion. I had a great time and a lot of laughs reminiscing with guards I worked with as a lifeguard in La Jolla for 5 years during my college days. They were and are some of the bravest guys on the planet and were the inspiration for my heroes in the Gamadin Series. Pictured is my bronze sculpture they still use as the Lifeguard of the Year Trophy.

2010 Star Trek Convention, Las Vegas

With Leucadia and special guest Sar on hand, the Gamadin Booth made quite a splash at the 2010 Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas! We made a lot of new fans and many came back to buy Book II... We more than doubled our sales and the biggest seller was the two-book sets! Check out the fun, below...

Sunnyside Elementary School Annual

The Gamadin crew would like to thank Elizabeth Rendall for sharing with us the Sunnyside Elementary School Annual picture of the Gamadin page. What a great surprise! We are very honored to be a part of Sunnyside's school history. Thank you.

What the Critics are Saying about the Gamadin Book Series

Mowgi Makes a New Friend

Mowgi made a new friend at the LA Times Festival of Books.

9 Steps to Writing a Novel

>Nine Steps to Writing a Novel You Can Sell

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1) Be a story teller. You would be amazed at the number of writers who do everything but. Often novels come as character portraits or memoirs written as fiction. Absent is any attempt at suspense, any motivation for the reader to turn those pages. As the novel unfolds, the story invariably begins to tread water and then sinks beneath the waves. The reader does not sit on the edge of his or her chair, but instead retreats into a glassy-eyed coma.

2) An oversimplified definition of a good story. Not two cats on a mat meowing at each other or two dogs yawning but a cat and dog growling and spitting and about to launch into heated combat. Conflict, suspense keep the reader reading. Again so often ignored by writers.

3) Premise. You should be able to sum up the story in one sentence A woman police lieutenant and hostage negotiator must establish contact and overcome a faceless tormentor who is determined to make her a hostage of fear.-Nora Roberts, High Noon. An act of violence shatters a small town and the daughter of the judge sitting on the case should be the state's witness but cannot remember what happened-or could she.-Jodi Picoult, Nineteen Minutes.

4) Sympathetic character. You want to portray a character the reader roots for.

5) Equally important, it helps if you can devise a character who is villainous, evil, bad, someone the reader hates but cannot get enough of. My favorite was Hannibal Lecter. When he arrived on the page, I was always hooked.

6) A love story always helps. They do not have to go off into the sunset but we all like hope. So if they don't, it's kinda nice that some day the possibility is there they just might link up.

7) Surgeons go to medical school, lawyers go to law school. All you need to do is go to Amazon or the bookstore or the library. Read, read, read and think about what you are reading and why the novel works for you.

8) Writing is not something most people can dash off. Morris West, a best-selling novelist, could and did write his novels in his head but most people need paper and pen or a computer. It is an arduous but an enormously satisfying task.

9) Before you begin, write a multi-page outline of the novel. A great example of a superb story teller and novelist who does just that is Ken Follett. Read WRITING THE BLOCKBUSTER NOVEL by ALBERT ZUCKERMAN, his esteemed editor and agent. You will learn how Follett does it.

Reprinted from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter," a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com

Gama Van Has Landed

Van: Ford Transit Connect

Wheels: San Diego Motoring Accessories, Oceanside, CA.

Graphics Design: Tom Kirkbride

Vehicle Graphics: Strategic Racing Designs, Vista, CA.

New Gamadin T-Shirts

The Gamadin T-shirts are now available at the Gamadin Store.

- All T-shirts are silk-screened on 100% fine jersey cotton.
- A stylish fit on virtually any body type.
- Available in 2 styles, Men's Regular and Fitted Women's. (Black only)
- All T-shirts cost $20.00 (+tax for CA residents) plus shipping.
- Women's sizes run small, which is why they are only available in Medium and Large.

Gamadin Book Series Classroom Guide

The Gamadin Series Classroom Guide is here! Follow this link to download the complete (pdf) guide here, or if you would like a hard copy, contact Francesca Romero at Fran@gamadin.com, and she will send you one FREE!! It's an exciting resource for your classroom.

Mowgi Sculpture

The Mowgi sculpture is finished! Funny thing, the red-eye fix in Photoshop doesn't work on the Undog.

Having an Effect

On my recent 2-day visit (1000+ students) to Jefferson Middle School in Oceanside, CA, many of the students wrote thank you's. Sometimes you wonder if what you're saying is having an effect. Attached are a couple of letters that help answer that question.